Tuesday, 14 May 2024

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:45): I rise today in celebration of IDAHOBIT, which this year falls on Friday 17 May 2024. By way of history, that date was chosen to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the international classification of ‘disease’ by the World Health Organization in 1990. The day is essential, as it aims to promote equality and acceptance of all individuals regardless of their gender identity or orientation. IDAHOBIT aims to raise awareness about the violence, the discrimination and the repression experienced by LGBTIQA+ communities. Despite the three principal issues mentioned in the name of the celebration, the day is widely regarded as a campaign which works to advance the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions and sex characteristics. As such, it is important to acknowledge our non-binary folk as part of this campaign as well. Discrimination and hatred towards LGBTIQA+ communities based on who they are or who they love is simply not acceptable. The Victorian government condemns hate speech, intimidation, stigma and discrimination, which cause real and lasting distress and damage to LGBTIQA+ people in Victoria. So I want to wish LGBTIQA+ constituents in the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region a very happy IDAHOBIT when it comes around this Friday. On IDAHOBIT and every day we stand with the LGBTIQA+ community, because in Victoria equality is not negotiable.